NCJ Number
57247
Date Published
1978
Length
53 pages
Annotation
THE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION CYCLE IN OKLAHOMA POLICE DEPARTMENTS WAS SURVEYED, WITH ATTENTION GIVEN TO AGE, EDUCATION, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, CHARACTER, PSYCHOLOGY TESTING, PHYSICAL AGILITY, AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION.
Abstract
THE SURVEY WAS RESTRICTED TO OKLAHOMA CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF 10,000 OR MORE. A LETTER, ACCOMPANIED BY A QUESTIONNAIRE, WAS SENT TO 34 CITIES TO REQUEST INFORMATION ABOUT POLICE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PRACTICES AS OF 1975. RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE AFTER TWO MAILINGS RESULTED IN THE RETURN OF 25 QUESTIONNAIRES, WITH 73.5 PERCENT RESPONDING WITH AT LEAST PARTIAL INFORMATION. IT WAS EVIDENT FROM THE SURVEY FINDINGS THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS RELIED ON SOME FORM OF LOCAL MEDIA TO ADVERTISE JOB OPENINGS. ALTHOUGH MOST CITIES ENGAGED IN SOME FORM OF ACTIVE RECRUITMENT USING AVAILABLE MEDIA, A LARGE PROPORTION INDICATED NO ACTIVE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM. MOST CITIES REQUIRED APPLICANTS TO BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD WHEN MAKING APPLICATION. CONSIDERING APPLICANTS UP TO 55 YEARS OF AGE SEEMED TO BE AN EXCEPTION. AMONG THE MOST PREVALENT CRITERIA FOR POLICE SELECTION WAS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. A SLOW TREND TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY. HEIGHT AND WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS, AND MINIMUM VISUAL ACUITY WERE COMMON FEATURES OF POLICE SELECTION STANDARDS; MORAL CHARACTER AND PRIOR FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS WERE OTHER CRITERIA USED TO EVALUATE POLICE APPLICANTS. EXAMINATIONS ADMINISTERED TO APPLICANTS INCLUDE GENERAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL, POLYGRAPH, AND PHYSICAL AGILITY TESTING. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS WERE CONDUCTED BY ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE FINAL PHASE OF PROCESSING APPLICANTS PRIOR TO SELECTION INVOLVED ORAL BOARDS OR INTERVIEW SETTINGS. SUPPORTING DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. THE SURVEY LETTER AND QUESTIONNAIRE ARE APPENDED. (DEP)